TNAG-1172-FCO40-1453-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 30

D

(244

A

т

SECRET

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : ESSENTIAL FACTS

1. Mr Clift's submission of 6 May describes the situation up

to that date. (The meeting with the Prime Minister scheduled

for 12 May did not take place. At an office meeting held by the

Secretary of State on 2 June it was agreed to approach No 10

again).

2.

Peking Telno 202 contains the record of the Heath/Deng

discussion.

3. It is clear that Deng was delivering a message of some

significance and that he expected it to reach us. It is satis-

factory to learn, as we have from other sources, that the Chinese

are actively thinking about the problem.

[NOT FOR USE]

4.

But:

a) there is no substitute for the official Ambassador/MFA

channel;

b) the use of intermediaries could be dangerous (open

to misunderstandings, wrong interpretations, leaks etc);

c) until Ministers (including the Prime Minister) have

decided on our negotiating limits, an official response,

or one that might be seen by the Chinese as such,

is

out of the question.

[NOT FOR USE]

5.

Once Ministers have considered how far we can go we can decide

how best to play our hand with the Chinese between now and the

Prime Minister's visit. It may be thought appropriate, in due

course, to respond officially

possibly even through unofficial

as well as official channels - but not appropriate at this stage.

Hong Kong and General Department

25 June 1982

SECRET

Page 30Page 31

CODE 18.78